Method of playing a wagering game and machine for playing the game

Abstract

A method of playing a wagering game in which the magnitude of the awards is increased and decreased in direct relation to the number of players who play the game, and alternately, in direct relation to the amount wagered by the players in the game. A machine for playing such a wagering game is also disclosed.

1 . A method of playing a wagering game played essentially concurrently by a plurality of players, said game including at least one non-winning condition, at least one winning condition, and at least one award, each award corresponding to an associated one of said at least one winning conditions, wherein a player placing a wager may win an award if said player achieves a winning condition, and wherein each player is capable of achieving either one of said at least one winning conditions or one of said at least one non-winning conditions independently of each of the other players, said method including:
 (a) increasing and decreasing the magnitude of at least one of said at least one awards in direct relation to the number of players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager.   
   
   
       2 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 1  wherein said game includes at least one non-winning condition, a plurality of winning conditions, and a plurality of awards, each award corresponding to an associated one of said plurality of winning conditions, wherein a player placing a wager may win an award if said player achieves one of said winning conditions, and wherein each player is capable of achieving either one of said winning conditions or one of said at least one non-winning conditions independently of each of the other players, said method including:
 (a) increasing and decreasing the magnitude of each of at least two of said awards in direct relation to the number of players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager.   
   
   
       3 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 2  wherein said plurality of players who essentially concurrently play said game and place said wager number between three players and seven players, inclusive. 
   
   
       4 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 1  wherein said game comprises a card game. 
   
   
       5 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 4  wherein said at least one winning condition comprises a predetermined arrangement of cards. 
   
   
       6 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 2  wherein said game comprises a card game. 
   
   
       7 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 6  wherein each of said plurality of winning conditions comprises a predetermined arrangement of cards. 
   
   
       8 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 6  wherein said card game is selected from the group consisting of Caribbean Stud® poker, Caribbean Draw® poker, Lit It Ride® poker, Three Card Poker, Twenty-One, 357 poker, and Pai Gow poker. 
   
   
       9 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 2  wherein said card game is played in a series of rounds and wherein the term “essentially concurrently” means “within a round” of play. 
   
   
       10 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 2  wherein the term “essentially concurrently” means “within a predetermined time interval”. 
   
   
       11 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 10  wherein said plurality of players who essentially concurrently play said game and place said wager number at least five players. 
   
   
       12 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 11  wherein said plurality of players who essentially concurrently play said game and place said wager number at least one hundred players. 
   
   
       13 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 1  wherein said game includes a plurality of winning conditions, and a plurality of awards, each award corresponding to an associated one of said plurality of winning conditions, said awards being awarded at least in part according to a predetermined pay out table listing awards as a ratio of said wager placed by any said player, and wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes modifying said ratio for at least two awards. 
   
   
       14 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 1  wherein said at least one award includes a jackpot paid in partial payments over a period of time, such as an annuity, and wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes modifying the length of said period of time. 
   
   
       15 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 1  wherein said game comprises a wagering game played against a house and wherein the house has more favorable odds than any of said players and wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes modifying said odds. 
   
   
       16 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 1  wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes increasing the magnitude of at least a first one of said at least one award as the number of said players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager increases, and decreasing the magnitude of said same at least first one of said at least one awards as the number of said players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager decreases. 
   
   
       17 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 1  wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes decreasing the magnitude of at least a first one of said at least one awards as the number of said players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager increases, and increasing the magnitude of said same at last first one of said at least one awards as the number of said players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager decreases. 
   
   
       18 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 17  wherein said at least first one of said at least one awards comprises a progressive jackpot. 
   
   
       19 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 17  wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes the step of (1) when a player achieves at least a first one of said at least one winning conditions, a portion of the award corresponding to said at least first one of said at least one winning conditions is awarded to at least one other player who also essentially concurrently played said game and who placed said wager. 
   
   
       20 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 19  wherein said portion comprises a percentage of said award. 
   
   
       21 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 20  wherein said percentage is shared equally among all of said other players. 
   
   
       22 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 20  wherein each of said other players receives an equal percentage of said award. 
   
   
       23 . A method of playing a wagering game capable of being played essentially concurrently by a plurality of players, said game including at least one non-winning condition, at least one winning condition, and at least one award, each award corresponding to an associated one of said at least one winning conditions wherein a player placing a wager may win an award if said player achieves a winning condition, and wherein each player is capable of achieving either one of said at least one winning conditions or one of said at least one non-winning conditions independently of each of any other player, said method including:
 (a) increasing and decreasing the magnitude of at least one of said at least one awards in direct relation to substantially the ratio of the total value of said wagers wagered by players playing said game essentially concurrently and who place said wager to the number of players who are capable of essentially concurrently playing said game and placing said wager.   
   
   
       24 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 23  wherein said game includes at least one non-winning condition, a plurality of winning conditions, and a plurality of awards, each award corresponding to an associated one of said plurality of winning conditions, wherein a player placing a wager may win an award if said player achieves one of said winning conditions, and wherein each player is capable of achieving either one of said winning conditions or one of said at least one non-winning conditions independently of each of any other player, said method including:
 (a) increasing and decreasing the magnitude of at least two of said awards in direct relation to substantially said ratio.   
   
   
       25 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 24  wherein said plurality of players who are capable of essentially concurrently playing said game and placing said wager number between three players and seven players, inclusive. 
   
   
       26 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 23  wherein said game comprises a card game. 
   
   
       27 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 26  wherein said at least one winning condition comprises a predetermined arrangement of cards. 
   
   
       28 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 25  wherein said game comprises a card game. 
   
   
       29 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 28  wherein each of said plurality of winning conditions comprises a predetermined arrangement of cards. 
   
   
       30 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 27  wherein said card game is selected from the group consisting of Caribbean Stud® poker, Caribbean Draw® poker, Lit It Ride® poker, Three Card Poker®, Twenty-One, 357 poker, and Pai Gow poker. 
   
   
       31 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 24  wherein said card game is played in a series of rounds and wherein the term “essentially concurrently” means “within a round” of play. 
   
   
       32 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 24  wherein the term “essentially concurrently” means “within a predetermined time interval”. 
   
   
       33 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 32  wherein said plurality of players who are capable of essentially concurrently playing said game and placing said wager number at least five players. 
   
   
       34 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 33  wherein said plurality of players who essentially concurrently play said game and place said wager number at least one hundred players. 
   
   
       35 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 24  wherein said game includes a plurality of winning conditions, and a plurality of awards, each award corresponding to an associated one of said plurality of winning conditions, said awards being awarded at least in part according to a predetermined pay out table listing awards as a ratio of said wager placed by any said player, and wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes modifying said ratio for at least two awards. 
   
   
       36 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 24  wherein said at least one award includes a jackpot paid in partial payments over a period of time, such as an annuity, and wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes modifying the length of said period of time. 
   
   
       37 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 24  wherein said game comprises a wagering game played against a house and wherein the house has more favorable odds than any of said players and wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes modifying said odds. 
   
   
       38 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 24  wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes increasing the magnitude of at least a first one of said at least one award as the number of said players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager increases, and decreasing the magnitude of said same at least first one of said at least one awards as the number of said players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager decreases. 
   
   
       39 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 24  wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes decreasing the magnitude of at least a first one of said at least one awards as the number of said players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager increases, and increasing the magnitude of said same at last first one of said at least one awards as the number of said players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager decreases. 
   
   
       40 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 39  wherein said at least first one of said at least one awards comprises a progressive jackpot. 
   
   
       41 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 39  wherein said increasing and decreasing step includes the step of (1) when a player achieves at least a first one of said at least one winning conditions, a portion of the award corresponding to said at least first one of said at least one winning conditions is awarded to at least one other player who also essentially concurrently played said game and who placed said wager. 
   
   
       42 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 41  wherein said portion comprises a percentage of said award. 
   
   
       43 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 42  wherein said percentage is shared equally among all of said other players. 
   
   
       44 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 42  wherein each of said other players receives an equal percentage of said award. 
   
   
       45 . A method of playing a wagering game capable of being played essentially concurrently by a plurality of players, said wagering game comprising (1) an underlying game including at least one non-winning underlying game condition, at least one winning underlying game condition, and at least one underlying game award, each underlying game award corresponding to an associated one of said at least one winning underlying game conditions, wherein a player placing a wager to participate in said underlying game may win an underlying game ward if said player achieves a winning underlying game condition and wherein each player is capable of achieving either one of said at least one winning underlying game conditions or one of said at least one non-winning underlying game conditions independently of each of any other player, and (2) an auxiliary game including at least one winning auxiliary game condition, at least one winning auxiliary game condition, and at least one auxiliary game award, each auxiliary game award corresponding to an associated one of said at least one winning auxiliary game conditions, wherein a player placing a wager to participate in said auxiliary game may win an auxiliary game ward if said player achieves a winning auxiliary game condition and wherein each player is capable of achieving either one of said at least one winning auxiliary game conditions or one of said at least one non-winning auxiliary game conditions independently of each of any other player, said wagering game comprising:
 (a) affording each player an opportunity to make at last one underlying game wager to participate in the underlying game;   (b) affording each player an opportunity to make at last one auxiliary game wager to participate in the auxiliary game; and   (c) increasing and decreasing the magnitude of at least one of said at least one auxiliary game awards in direct relation to the number of players who essentially concurrently play said wagering game and who place at least one of said at least one auxiliary game wagers.   
   
   
       46 . A method of playing a wagering game according to  claim 45  further comprising (d) increasing and decreasing the magnitude at least one of at least one of said underlying game awards in direct relation to the number of players who essentially concurrently play said wagering game and who place at least one of said at least one underlying game wagers. 
   
   
       47 . A machine for playing a wagering game, said wagering game played essentially concurrently by a plurality of players, said game including at least one non-winning condition, at least one winning condition, and at least one award, each award corresponding to an associated one of said at least one winning conditions, wherein a player placing a wager may win an award if said player achieves a winning condition, and wherein each player is capable of achieving either one of said at least one winning conditions or one of said at least one non-winning conditions independently of each of the other players, said machine including:
 (a) means for sensing whether a player has placed said wager;   (b) means responsive to said sensing means for determining substantially when any player has placed any said wager;   (c) means responsive to said determining means for assessing substantially how many players have placed said wager and are playing said wagering game essentially concurrently; and   (d) means responsive to said assessing means for increasing and decreasing the magnitude of at least one of said at least one awards in direct relation to the number of players who essentially concurrently play said game and who place said wager.   
   
   
       48 . A machine for playing a wagering game according to  claim 47  wherein said sensing means includes an optical detector for optically detecting the presence of a tangible wagering indicia such as a coin, a chip, a token, or a human digit. 
   
   
       49 . A machine for playing a wagering game according to  claim 47  wherein said sensing means includes an electrical detector, such as an inductance detector, for electrically detecting the presence of a tangible wagering indicia such as a coin, a chip, a token, or a human digit. 
   
   
       50 . A machine for playing a wagering game according to  claim 47  wherein said sensing means includes an electrical switch activated by a player manipulatable a button, such as a push button or key on a computer keyboard. 
   
   
       51 . A machine for playing a wagering game according to  claim 47  wherein said sensing means includes a sound detector for detecting a player's voice command. 
   
   
       52 . A machine for playing a wagering game, said wagering game capable of being played essentially concurrently by a plurality of players, said game including at least one non-winning condition, at least one winning condition, and at least one award, each award corresponding to an associated one of said at least one winning conditions, wherein a player placing a wager may win an award if said player achieves a winning condition, and wherein each player is capable of achieving either one of said at least one winning conditions or one of said at least one non-winning conditions independently of each of any other player, said machine including:
 (a) means for sensing whether a player has placed said wager;   (b) means for calculating the value of said wager placed by any player;   (c) means responsive to said sensing means for determining substantially when any player has placed any said wager:   (d) means responsive to said determining means for assessing substantially which players have placed said wager and are playing said wagering game essentially concurrently;   (e) means responsive to said calculating means and to said assessing means for aggregating the value of said wagers placed by said players and who are playing said wagering game essentially concurrently;   (f) means responsive to said aggregating means for comparing said aggregated value to the number of players who are capable of essentially concurrently playing said game and said wagers; and   (g) means responsive to said comparing means for increasing and decreasing the magnitude of at least one of said at least one awards in direct relation to substantially the ratio of said aggregated value to the number of players who are capable of essentially concurrently playing said game and placing said wager.   
   
   
       53 . A machine for playing a wagering game according to  claim 52  wherein said sensing means includes an optical detector for optically detecting the presence of a tangible wagering indicia such as a coin, a chip, a token, or a human digit. 
   
   
       54 . A machine for playing a wagering game according to  claim 52  wherein said sensing means includes an electrical detector, such as an inductance detector, for electrically detecting the presence of a tangible wagering indicia such as a coin, a chip, a token, or a human digit. 
   
   
       55 . A machine for playing a wagering game according to  claim 52  wherein said sensing means includes an electrical switch activated by a player manipulatable a button, such as a push button or key on a computer keyboard. 
   
   
       56 . A machine for playing a wagering game according to  claim 52  wherein said sensing means includes a sound detector for detecting a player's voice command.